Who Should be Aston Villa Manager ? Now with new, revised poll

[hilts_coolerking]

They don't seem too bothered on the Fulham forum I was reading.  They do have a thread on it but then they also have a thread just below it called "Does Anyone Have Any Accurate Info On Exactly How Bad For You Bombay Mix Is?"

[TimTheVillain]

I'm a bit concerned about Ancelotti's left eyebrow .... it has a mind of its own !

It's going to be a very tough choice.

[dave.woodhall]

They don't seem too bothered on the Fulham forum I was reading.  They do have a thread on it but then they also have a thread just below it called "Does Anyone Have Any Accurate Info On Exactly How Bad For You Bombay Mix Is?"

Sounds a lot like here.

[villa `cross the mersey]

Story in Times online from 'One minute ago' saying Villa have announced Mark Hughes!

Can`t find this anywhere

[saunders_heroes]

A big NO to Hughes. Mr Moyes please! Move heaven and earth for him, Mr Lerner!

Forgive me if I'm wrong but don't you regularly come out and say how dire Everton are to watch when Moyes's name gets linked?

Anyway...

I can't believe their won't be a phonecall to Ancelloti's agent just to test the water. If he'd want to come which I doubt, then he has to be the choice. Just use Pires's deused chaffeur to ferry him from London every day if needs be and he'd surely have the kudos to attract some big names here from abroad.

More realistic I expect an approach to Everton to be made within the next few days which will probably be rejected so we might need him to force the issue a little bit.

If not, then yep this clause Hughes supposedly has seems interesting. And if that happens, be prepared for Ireland and Warnock to be given second chances as both played very well previously under him....

A far more interesting array of candidates than last time so these next few weeks should be interesting.

Yes, you are forgiven.
I'd take Moyes in a heartbeat. He can motivate players, and who knows what he could do with some decent backing from Lerner. I want the Villa back up in and around the top 6, and I think he's the man to do it. This season was just too stressful to go through it all again with Houllier. And Hughes can f#ck off.

[Risso]

I on't think they'll announce anybody until Houllier has officially left.

[dave.woodhall]

Story in Times online from 'One minute ago' saying Villa have announced Mark Hughes!

Can`t find this anywhere

I think they'll have to announce Ged's going first.

[SoccerHQ]

Don't you have to pay to view the Times website now?

[adrenachrome]

According to oddschecker, all but 2 bookmakers have disappeared from this market.

Could be a glitch, I suppose.

[villa `cross the mersey]

According to oddschecker, all but 2 bookmakers have disappeared from this market.

Could be a glitch, I suppose.

Hughes was evens on most sites earlier tonight

[dave.woodhall]

According to oddschecker, all but 2 bookmakers have disappeared from this market.

Could be a glitch, I suppose.

They usually do overnight.

[citizenDJ]

Don't you have to pay to view the Times website now?

You do. The report actually says 'Aston Villa aim to replace Gerard Houllier with Mark Hughes'.

I really can't make my mind up at all about who would be best replacement. I voted for Benitez, but Ancelotti, Jol, Hughes, Moyes......to be honest, I'd be pretty happy with any of them. Of course, I thought Bob Bradley would have been alright last time around......

[Louzie0]

Ok -
 
This article says David Moyes has ruled himself out as uninterested in moving to Villa.  The writers don't credit any sources, though.  Their main reason for writing that MH is the preferred candidate seems to be that he wanted the job last summer but MON resigned too late - i.e. he'd already gone to Fulham.

Here is a cut down version of the article, I hope, as I'm not brilliant at cut and paste:


Villa aim to replace Gerard Houllier with Mark Hughes
 (dated today)
 
Gary Jacob, Tony Barrett

1 minute ago



Aston Villa have identified Mark Hughes as their preferred choice to succeed Gérard Houllier as manager as the wrangle continued over compensation for the Frenchman’s exit.
 
Houllier is expected to leave Villa Park after one season, despite him being given the all-clear to return to his duties after an unspecified heart problem that led to the 63-year-old being hospitalised and missing the final month of the season.
 
Villa are understood to be unwilling to take on the risk of Houllier not completing the last two years of his three-year deal.
 
Hughes has emerged as favourite for the post and had stalled on signing a new two-year contract at Fulham. The Welshman is believed to have a break clause in his rolling year deal that allows him to leave for minimal compensation this month.
 
He was close to dismissal at the turn of the year but led his side to eighth in the Barclays Premier League this season and a place in the Europa League via the Fair Play League.
 
Fulham do not deny the existence of a clause but are adamant that Hughes, 47, will be their manager next season and have said that he has bought a house in Surrey, which underlines his commitment to the West London club.
 
Hughes might have become Villa manager a year ago, but he accepted Fulham’s offer when it appeared that Martin O’Neill would be remaining at Villa Park. O’Neill departed 12 days later.
 
Steve McClaren, who declined an opportunity to take over at Upton Park, is interested in the Villa post and David Moyes, the Everton manager, has appeared to rule himself out when he insisted that he “is not interested” in replacing Houllier.
 
Carlo Ancelotti has said that he would prefer to stay in England, while Rafael Benítez would be willing to listen to an offer from Villa having turned down the manager’s job at Atlético Madrid out of a desire to take a position in the Premier League.
 
Villa are keen for a straightforward process after being left in the lurch when O’Neill left just days before the start of this season. Houllier was a surprise choice, beating Gianfranco Zola and Alan Curbishley for the post, but his team were caught up in a relegation battle and dressing-room unrest before finishing ninth.
 
Houllier’s departure could be as messy. The Frenchman wants to carry on in the post, backed up by medical evidence that he is healthy to continue. However, Villa have their own reports from club doctors and are reluctant to avoid something happening to the manager mid-season. It is not clear whether Villa have insurance to cover any eventuality. The legal dispute, however, will affect the size of the compensation package.
 
Houllier appears to be unwilling to agree to leaving by “mutual consent”, although it is expected the matter could be resolved today. He is not expected to be retained in a technical director role.
 

[Matt Collins]

On Hughes, I remember his blacburn team with McCarthy and Santa crux up front and bentley and pedersen on the wings as being a good side to watch.

I think there are a few good potential options out there. Not sure in our entire history managers with the pedigree of Benitez or ancelotti would have been contenders at all. Hughes and moyes are the best of realistic British choices. I like Martinez but not for the villa job now. Wigan have been too weak too often and I suspect he feels he owes them some loyalty. Mclaren and curbishley shouldn't get near the job.

[adrenachrome]

According to oddschecker, all but 2 bookmakers have disappeared from this market.

Could be a glitch, I suppose.

They usually do overnight.

Cheers, did not know that.

Victor Chandler, which is still open has Rafa shortening to second favourite at 9/4 and Sky have him at 11/8.